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After growing discontent from the fans about the club’s frugal transfer policy, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger finally splashed the cash in the transfer window.
And wasn’t it a deal worth waiting for!
According to an official statement, Arsenal signed German international Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for a massive $73.4 million (£42.5 million) fee.
The transfer fee well exceeds the club’s previous transfer record with the Ozil also likely to become the club’s highest weekly earner at around $225,000 (£130,000) per week.
Talk about making an impact on deadline day.
Gunners’ fans have heavily criticised Wenger and Arsenal all summer for their inability to land a high-profile target, but will no doubt be much happier with the club in finalising a deal with Ozil.
The North Londoners didn’t pay over the odds to sign the star playmaker, and according to comments made in the announcement of the deal, the presence of Wenger was in fact one of the big selling-points.
“I am thrilled to be joining a club of the stature of Arsenal and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League,” said the 24-year-old.
“It will be great for my own personal development as a player and I am particularly looking forward to working with Arsène Wenger.”
Obviously the move is a high-cost one for the North London club and one which carries with it lots of pressure and anticipation. But given the raw talent that Ozil oozes on the field, the German international is completely justified in being heralded as a transfer coup for Arsenal and a fantastic move by Wenger.
Since August of 2010, Ozil has delivered an astounding 47 assists—more than any other player in Europe’s five major leagues in that time period.
His creativity and invention will provide a fresh spark in the Gunners’ midfield alongside current playmaker Santi Cazorla, and will also give added strength for Olivier Giroud at the top of the attack. Giroud has already three Premier League goals this year for Arsenal (including the winner in their recent London derby against Tottenham Hotspur), and stands to become one of the most potent strikers in England with the likes of Ozil and Cazorla behind him.
From a tactical sense, Ozil will seamlessly transition into Arsenal’s midfield, with Cazorla likely to take up a playmaking position from the left flank like he did at Malaga.
Theo Walcott will battle Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (when healthy) for the right-wing position, with Giroud rounding out their attack in the striker’s role.
Much like Real Madrid now have with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, the presence of both Ozil and Cazorla in the same attacking lineup will cause havoc for opposing defenders. The presence of another playmaker will create more space on the field for each player while giving the Gunners’ further strength in attack.
Ozil and Cazorla are the new one-two punch of the Premier League.
Potentially, the arrival of Ozil could be enough to see Arsenal once again finish inside the top-four of the league. Down the track, it may even be enough to see them challenge for the Premier League title and end their trophy-less drought.
Whether that’s the case or not still remains to be seen, but for now, there’s little doubting just how good a deal this is for Arsenal and the fans.
Ozil will likely make his Premier League debut on Sunday morning (12:00am AEST) when the Gunners take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
As Geoff Lemon showed us, it’s about time Wenger “spent some fookin’ money”:
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